Color image formation apparatus and method for changing color while maintaining intended color in a print job

1. A color image formation apparatus comprising: a containing unit configured to contain a plurality of developers of different colors; an image formation unit configured to perform an image formation process using at least a part of said plurality of developers; a control unit configured to cause said image formation unit to perform the image formation process by changing at least one color of a plurality of colors designated by a job to be processed to an alternative color, such that the image formation process is able to be performed using a developer that is not restricted for use when a part of said plurality of developers for processing the changed color is restricted; and a reception unit configured to receive a designation of a change-prohibited color, which is a color not to be changed to an alternative color by said control unit, said control unit being configured to cause the image formation process to be performed for said job while prohibiting said change-prohibited color of the colors designated by said job from being changed.

2. The color image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein: said job to be processed includes a job that instructs the image formation process for a plurality of pages; and said control unit is configured to selectively perform an operation in a mode of maintaining said change-prohibited color for all of said plurality of pages, or an operation in a mode of maintaining said change-prohibited color for a designated page of said plurality of pages.

3. The color image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said reception unit is configured to provide a notification that urges to change said change-prohibited color designated previously, when said image formation unit is not able to perform the image formation process with said change-prohibited color being maintained for said job.

4. The color image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said reception unit is configured to display, on a display unit, a preview image of said job to be processed, and to receive said designation of said change-prohibited color based on the preview image.

5. The color image formation apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said reception unit is configured to receive a color of a pixel designated in said preview image as said designation of said change-prohibited color.

6. The color image formation apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said reception unit is configured to receive a color within a region designated in said preview image as said designation of said change-prohibited color.

7. The color image formation apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein said reception unit is configured to receive a color of a partial image designated in said preview image as said designation of said change-prohibited color.

8. The color image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said reception unit is configured to display, on a display unit, an image for receiving selection of said change-prohibited color.

9. The color image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the part of said plurality of developers is restricted in use when a remaining amount of the part of the developers is less than a predetermined amount set in advance.

10. The color image formation apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein said change-prohibited color includes a color approximate to said change-prohibited color.

11. A color image formation system comprising: a color image formation apparatus; and an information processing apparatus configured to transmit a job to be processed, to said color image formation apparatus, said color image formation apparatus including a containing unit configured to contain a plurality of developers of different colors, an image formation unit configured to perform an image formation process using at least a part of said plurality of developers, and a control unit configured to cause said image formation unit to perform the image formation process by changing at least one color of a plurality of colors designated by said job to be processed to an alternative color, such that the image formation process is able to be performed using a developer that is not restricted for use when a part of said plurality of developers for processing the changed color is restricted in use, said information processing apparatus including a reception unit configured to receive a designation of a change-prohibited color, which is a color not to be changed by said control unit, said control unit being configured to cause the image formation process to be performed for said job while prohibiting said change-prohibited color of the colors designated by said job to be changed.

12. A color image processing method employing at least a part of a plurality of contained developers of different colors, comprising: changing at least one color of a plurality of colors designated by a job to be processed to an alternative color, such that an image formation process is able to be performed using a developer that is not restricted for use when a part of said plurality of developers is restricted; receiving a designation of a change-prohibited color, which is a color not to be changed; and processing said job, by a color image formation device, by changing the at least one color to the alternative color and prohibiting said change-prohibited color of the colors designated by said job from being changed, when said change-prohibited color is designated.

13. A non-transitory storage medium having an image processing program stored therein for performing an image formation process using at least a part of a plurality of contained developers of different colors, said image processing program causing a computer to: change at least one color of a plurality of colors designated by a job to be processed to an alternative color, such that the image formation process is able to be performed using a developer not restricted for use when a part of said plurality of developers is restricted in use; and receive a designation of a change-prohibited color, which is a color not to be changed, processing said job by changing the at least one color to the alternative color and prohibiting said change-prohibited color of the colors designated by said job to be changed, when said change-prohibited color is designated.